By Ayodele Oni
Ondo state House of Assembly has backed the seven-day ultimatum issued to herdsmen to quit the state’s Forests by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
According to the Lawmakers, the decision is a good intention meant to secure the lives and property of the people.
The Lawmakers, while reacting to various positions by interest groups on the vacation order, posited that the Herdsmen had done a lot of damage to the people.
Following incessant cases of kidnapping, and other criminal activities traceable to rogue herders in the state forest reserves, Governor Akeredolu, at a meeting with the leadership of Fulani herdsmen, ordered unregistered members of the Cattle Rearers Association to vacate the forests within seven days.
In a press statement, signed by the Chairman House Committee on Information Youth and Sports Development, Mr Olugbenga Omole, the Lawmakers lamented the loss of lives and property attributed to the nefarious activities of herders in Ondo State.
“The mindless killing of the daughter of Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, the gruesome murder of the Olufon of Ifon, Oba Adewusi, the recent killing of the Deputy Registrar of the Federal University of Technology Akure among others are still very fresh in our memory”
While commending Governor Rotimi Akeredolu for his courage in issuing the vacation order, the Lawmakers condemned the statement credited to the Presidential spokesperson Shehu Garba criticising the stance of the Governor.
They noted that residents of the State have gone through a lot of trauma in the hands of these criminal minded individuals, adding that it is the responsibility of government to protect the lives and property of the citizenry.
While pledging their support for the quit notice, the Lawmakers stated that they may have to cut short their recess to attend to this burning issue while urging registered herders to go about their legitimate duties without fear.
